INTRODUCTION

to writing a
graph description

FIRST SAMPLE

Visitors to Hong Kong by country/area 2002-2009

18
16
Mainland China
People (in millions)

14
12
10 Other areas in
8 Asia
6
Non-Asian
4
countries
2
0
2002

2004

2005

2006

2007

2009
2003

2008

Years

http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/Content_807/transport.pdf
 Sample Report 1 – Model Answer

The graph shows the number of travelers from various parts of the world entering Hong Kong
for the years from 2002 to 2009. It can clearly be seen that there has been* a large increase in the
number of Mainland Chinese visitors, while figures for visitors from Asia as well as other areas of the
world have only shown* a slight growth.

The numbers of Mainland Chinese visiting Hong Kong have risen considerably over this time
period. In 2002 there were nearly 7 million Mainland Chinese visitors, similar to the figure for other
parts of Asia and just over double that for non-Asian travelers. This number climbed to approximately
8 million in 2003, then rose dramatically by 4 million to just over 12 million only one year later. Since
2004 there has been a steady increase, with around 18 million Mainland Chinese travelers visiting
Hong Kong in 2009. This is more than double the number for that year of other visitors from
Asia, and around four times the figures for non-Asian visitors.

The figures for travelers from other parts of the world show similar trends: first a dip of
roughly one-third the total number of visitors from 2002 to 2003, then slow growth until 2007
followed by a leveling out. Overall, the numbers of Asian tourists rose by 1 million from just under 7
million in 2002 to roughly 8 million seven years later, while the corresponding figures for visitors from
non-Asian parts of the world were roughly 3 million and 4.5 million respectively.

To sum up, in recent years Hong Kong has become an increasingly popular destination for
visitors, especially people from mainland China who currently outnumber those from all other parts of
the world combined.

STEPS for writing a graph description

Step #1
Read the title and labels on the graph as well as the instructions.
Æ Note down 2-3 synonyms for key words/phrases.
Æ Write your introductory sentence, trying not to copy any phrases.
Step #2
Analyze the information in the graph, looking at the overall trend(s).
Æ Write the rest of your introduction, explaining the main trend(s).
Step #3
Plan your body paragraphs (probably one paragraph for each main trend).
Æ Draft a topic sentence for each body paragraph.
Step #4
Choose the most important details that will support your statement(s) of main trend(s).
Æ Write the rest of the body paragraphs.
Æ Remember to include key figures from the data.
Step #5
Think about how to restate the main trend(s) in the graph using different words.
Æ Write your conclusion, paraphrasing the main trend(s).
Step #6
Proofread your description. Check:
Æ Grammar: Accuracy of noun phrases and
verb phrases, correct verb tenses & prepositions.
Æ Organization/coherence: Linking words and variety of phrases/conjunctions.
Æ Content: Is the information accurate and detailed enough? Do the details
support the topic sentences?
SECOND SAMPLE
The graph below shows permanent and long-term arrivals in New Zealand by country of
origin in August of the years 2007 to 2009. Write a report of at least 150 words describing
and comparing the data.

Permanent and Long-term Arrivals in New

Zealand by country of origin

600
Number of people

500
400 Aug-07
300 Aug-08
200 Aug-09
100
0
China
Canada

France
Hong
Kong
USA

Germany
Mld

Model answer
The graph shows the number of immigrants to New Zealand from various parts of the world
for the month of August in the years 2007 to 2009. Different trends can be seen for people arriving
from North America, Asia and Europe, while immigrants from Mainland China showed the greatest
increase as well as made up the largest proportion of immigrants throughout most of this time period.

The figures for people moving to New Zealand from different regions of the world showed
diverse tendencies. The numbers of North American immigrants firstly peaked at a little over 150 for
Canada and just under 400 for the USA in August 2008, then declined by around 60 to 80 the
following year. Long-term arrivals in New Zealand from two European countries showed a
continuous slight rise, with numbers of French and Germans reaching around 70 and 310 in 2009
respectively. In contrast, the figures for permanent arrivals from two Asian regions, Hong Kong and
Mainland China, showed completely different trends. The number of Mainland Chinese immigrants
grew sharply, almost doubling from about 300 in August 2007 to approximately 550 in 2009,
comprising the largest group by 2009, around twice the size of the groups from America and Germany.
On the other hand, numbers of Hong Kongers settling in New Zealand remained stable at roughly 50
per year, only around one-tenth the numbers of Mainland Chinese in 2009.

To sum up, areas in three different continents displayed different trends. The numbers for
mainland Chinese immigrants rose most dramatically and in 2009 represented the largest
group, while Hong Kongers comprised the smallest numbers.
Population growth in Canada

This graph shows the growth of the population in Canada from 1978 to 2009. It is taken from the
website about Statistics in Canada.
There are three graphs in the chart. The green graph shows the total growth of the population, the
black one deals with the migrated people in Canada and the blue graph shows the natural increase of
the population. In 1988/89 there was an enormous growth. In the following years the total growth
went down to about 250,000 in 1998/99. From that time on the Canadian population has been
gradually growing again although the natural increase slows down. So we can say that the growth of
the population in Canada is based on migration.

How can I describe a graph?

UPWARD TREND VERBS

to increase
to rise
to go up
to climb
to shoot up
to rocket
to soar
text
text

DOWNWARD TREND VERBS

to decrease
to fall
to go down
to decline
to drop
to plunge
to plummet
ADVERBS TO DESCRIBE BIG CHANGES

dramatically
sharply
suddenly
significantly
drastically
noticeably
steeply

ADVERBS TO DESCRIBE SMALL CHANGES

gradually
slightly
steadily
gently
moderately
little by little
step by step

HOW TO DESCRIBE NO CHANGE

remained the same

remained constant
stabilised
levelled off
moderatley
little by little
step by step

Useful expressions:
The pie chart is about ...
The bar chart deals with ...
The line graph (clearly) shows ...
The slices of the pie chart compare the ...
The chart is divided into ... parts.
It highlights ...
... has the largest (number of) ...
... has the second largest (number of) ...
... is as big as ...
... is twice as big as ...
... is bigger than ...
more than ... per cent ...
only one third ...
less than half ...
The number ... increases/goes up/grows by ...
The number ... decreases/goes down/sinks by ...
The number ... does not change/remains stable
I was really surprised/shocked by the ...
So we can say ...